Yarn-dyeing machine



March 25 1924.

GL T. THOMAYER YARN DYEING MACHINE s Sheets-sheet 1 Filed Feb. 5 1923 INVENToR @gorra/e 7 Thomayer ATTORNEY 8 8 dw l G. yT. 'rHoMAYER YARN DYEING MACHINE Filed Feb. 5 1923 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Rw wm mlm e. m#

Patented Mar. 2.5, 1924.

titane GEORGE T. THOMAYER, F ALBANY, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR T0 FULD AND HATCH KNITTING COMPANY, A CORPORATION 0F NEW YORK.

YARN-DYEING- MACHINE.

Application led February 5, 1923.

To all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, GEORGE T. THOMAYER, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Albany, county of Albany, State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Yarn-Dyeing Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a method and apparatus f or dyeing yarn or thread and, more particularly, to a method and apparatus for dyeing yarn at spaced intervals as it is being wound on a core or cone. More specifically, the invention relates to a machine by which an approximately uni- 15 form spacing or sequence of the dyed intervals may be obtained when the cone of yarn is built up outwardly in .layers of increasing diameters.

The intermittent or random dyeing of yarn has heretofore been done by the knitter While rewinding the yarn on cones suitable for knitting, by bringing the yarn in to and out of contact with a body of dye liquor at regular intervals as it is wound on the cones. A uniform sequence of dyed intervals is formed in this manner since the cones used in knitting are built up vertically of conical layers of substantially uniform dimensions formed at a substantially uniform speed of rotation. It is frequently desirable, however, to supply the yarn to the knitter in a dyed condition, thereby eliminating the winding and dyeing operation at the knitting mills. However, since the cones or balls of yarn sent fromv the spinner to the knitter are built by wind-l ing the yarn in outwardly superposed layers of progressively increasing diameters and the yarn accordingly passes to the co-ne at a speed which increases progressively with the increase in diameter of the cone, a suiiiciently uniform or regular sequence of dyed and undyed intervals would not be obtained if the yarn were brought into and out of contact with the dye at regular intervals.

An object of the piesent invention is to provide a method of random dyeing yarn by which a uniform sequence of dyed and undyed lengths of yarn may be obtained as the yarn is wound in layers of progressively increasing diameters.

Another object of the invention is to provide apparatus by which yarn may be dyed in spaced intervals in uniform sequence Serial No. 616,901.

while being wound in layers of progressively increasing diameters.

A further object of the invention is to provide a Winding and dyeing apparatus in which the yarn is wound in windings of outwardly superposed layers and the yarn passing to said layers is brought into and out of contact with a dye in uniform sequence for each layer of yarn on thefwind- 1n t(Further objects and features of the invention are to provide means by which yarn may be dyed at spaced intervals while being Awound on a core and for decreasing the time intervals during and between which the yarn is in and out of Contact with the dye 1n proportion to the increase in diameter of the winding and to control these time intervals directly from the surface of the winding, and to provide an improved apparatus for applying the dye to the yarn.

lVi-tlrthese and other objects in view, the invention comprises the method and apparatus described and setforth in the following specification and claims.

The various features of the invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which,

Fig. l is a front elevation of a winding and dyeing machine embodying a preferred form of the invention.

Fig. la is a detail sectional view of a portion of -a transmission mechanism for the dyeing mechanism.

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the machine shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the machine shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and

Fig. 4 is a view partly in section of a portion of the dyeing mechanism showing the position of the yarn in taking up dye from the dye wheel, theposition of the yarn being exaggerated.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings, the dyeing mechanism is illust-rated as applied to a winding machine of the ordinary type used for winding the yarn from a number of spinning cops onto a cone for sending to a knitting mill, a number of the details of the winding mechanism being omitted from the drawings to more clearly show the general character of the machine. In machines of this type a thread 10 is passed from a cop 12 through a tension device 14 and over a bar 16 to a thread guide 17 which is reciprocated longitudinally of a rotating winding core 20, of conical or cylindrical shape, in such manner as to uniformly distrib-nte the turns of yarn on the rota-ting core. The thread guide is reciprocated lon-h4 gitudinally of the core by a suitable cam and follower device or other suitable means in a housing 22 and is supported and held against the outer surface of the core or winding of y-arn by an arm 23 pivoted on a supporting axle 24 and provided with a counter balancing weight 25. The arm 23 and weight 25 are accordingly deflected and,7

pushed away from vertical position by ,con tact with the windings of yarn as successive layers of yarn are formed on the core 20. A number of winding devices are customarily mounted side by side on a single frame 26, the cores being supported on and uniformly rotated by shafts 27 by means of a common driving means such as a belt 28 passing in series about pulleys 29 on the shafts 27.

The yarn is dyed as it passes from the cop 12 to the tension device 14. ln the present invention this is accomplished by guiding the yarn over and in contact with a dye applying means, suc-h for example, as a rotating wheel having an absorbent surface dipping into a tank of dye liquor, and throwing the yarn upwardly out off contact with the dye applying surface at intervals by means of a rotating cam placed beneath the passing yarn immediately in front of the. dye applying wheel. 'llhe cam or throwing device is rotated in a definite relation to the speed of rotation of the cores 20 and to the size or diameter of the winding of yarn on the core. 'llo this end, the cam is driven from a source of power which serves to rotate the cores, and a speed changing mechanism is interposed between the driving power and the throwing cam. The speed changing mechanism is controlled by an element resting against the surface of the yarn wound on the cores, such as the arm 23 and weight 25, to increaseJ the speed ratio as the windings of yarn build up on the cores, and thus increase the rotation of the cam relative to that of the driving means. The intervals during which the yarn is in and out of contact with the dye applying means is thus varied in accordance with the increasing diameter of the winding and the increasing speed of the yarn.

Referring more particularly to the accompanying drawings, the yarn 10 from the cops 12 is led through a guide 30, over a tossing cam or randomer 32 and a dye applying wheel 34 to a guide 36 from which it passes.

to the tension device 14. The dye applying wheel 34 is supported on and rotated by a shaft 38 and the lower portion of the wheel dips into a body of dye liquor contained in a tank 40 extending lengthwise of the machine and a film of dye liquor is thus carried to the upper surface of the periphery of the wheel in positioirdtp, be absorbed by the passing yarn. To lesseni'the tendency for the evaporation of dye liquor the tank 40 is made. of horizontal tubular form having narrow slits or openings 42 in its upper surface through which 'thewlice'ls 34 project. rll`he wheels 34 are preferably made of metal and have radial pockets in which bodies of fibrous absorbent material 44 are carried to assist in maintaining a iihn of liquor on the upper surface of the wheel. The guides 30 and 36 are so positioned that the passing' yarn normally rests on the upper periphery of the wheel 34 and lightly touches the wheel as it passes, to permit the dye liquor to be soaked up and absorbed by the yarn without a wiping or rubbing action which might abi-ade the surface of the yarn. lhe randoming cams 32 are supported on, and rota-ted by, a shaft 46 extending longitudinally in front of 'the tank 40 and supported by brackets 48 extending from the front wall of the tank. rEhe rotation of the randoming cam permits the yarn to alternately fall into cont-act with a chord like surface 50 on the cam and pass tangentially over the wheel 34, and to be struck by a projecting portion 52 and thrown upwardly out of contact with the wheel 34. The passing yarn is thus given a rising and falling movement, the length of time of the alternate movements being determined by the speed of rotation of the cam, and, accordingly, the lengths of the dyed and undyed portions of the yarn are determined by the relative speeds of travel of the yarn and of rotation of the cam.

The speed of rotation of the cams 32 and wheels 34 is related to and controlled by the speed of rotation of the cores 20 by driving the cam shaft 46 andthe shaft 38 from one of the core rotating shafts 27. To this end, one of the shafts 27 is provided with a pulley 54 and a belt 56 is reeved over this pulley llt) and under a pulley 58 mounted on a drive shaft 60 through which the dyeing mechanism is driven. The shaft 6() is slidably and rotatably supported in brackets 62 at the rear of the frame 26 and is provided at its end with a wheel 64 having a friction surface. The rotation of the shaft 60 is transmitted to a horizontal shaft 66, supported at a right angle to the shaft 60, by means of a disc 68 mounted on the end of the shaft and pressed against the surface of the wheel 64 by means of a spring 70 confined between the disc and a supporting bracket 72. From the shaft 66, the shaft 38 of the dye wheels 34 is driven directly by means of a worm wheel 74, mounted on the shaft 66, and a gear wheel 764 on the shaft 38 meshing with the worm 74. This driva suitable housing 84, Figs. 1a and 3. A worm 86 is mounted on the forward end of the shaft 82 and meshes with a gear 88 mounted on a short vertical shaft 90 supported in the housing 84. -A bevel gear wheel 92 is mounted on the vertical shaft 90 and meshes with a bevel gear 94 mounted on a short horizontal shaft 96 in alignment with, and con nected to, the horizontal cam shaft 46.- The various transmission mechanisms between the driving spindle 27 and the cam shaft 46 are designed to give the proper Speed of rotation to the cam shaft and, preferably, to give the cams a direction of rotation opposite to that of the passing yarns.

When the Wheel 64 is at a fixed or definite radial distance from the center of the disc 68, the random cams 32 are rotated at a speed having a definite relation to the speed of rotation of the spindles 27 and cores 20. By changing the radial position of the wheel 64 on the disc 68 the ratio of the speed of the cams to that of the cores may be varied, the relative speed of the cams being increased as the wheel 64 approaches the center of the disc. To compensate for the increased speed of the yarn as the diameter of the winding on the cores increases, the ratio of the speed of rotation of the cams to that of the cores is accordingly increased by bringing the wheel 64 nearer the center of the disc 68.

To this end the displacement of the weight 25 of one of the arms 23 as the yarn winding increases in size is transmitted through a link 98, pivotally connected at 011e end to a pin 100 on the weight 25, to one end of a lever 102, to which the other end of the link is pivoted by means of a pin 104. The lever 102 is supported transversely of the frame 26 by means of a pivot pin 106 depending from the`frame, and the rear end of the lever extends over and adjacent to a flanged collar 108 rigidly mounted on the shaft 60. A roller 110 is mounted o-n the rear end of the lever 102 and depends between flanges 112 and 114 of the collar 108 in such position that the collar may rotate freely, but that the flanges 112 and 114 are engaged by the roller 110 when the lever 102 is swung about the pivot 106, and the collar 108, the shaft 60 and the wheel 64 are shifted longitudinally in the brackets 62 to thus vary the speed ratio between the cores 20 and the dyeing mechanism as the windings of yarn increase in size.

It is to be understood that the arm 23 does not swing back and forth as the guide 17 reciprocates through different positions lengthwise of a layer of yarn but is deflected progressively with the formation of each successive layer. The length of the intervals between and during the application of dye to the yarn is therefore not synchronized to the speed of the yarn during the formation of each layer when a conical or tapered core is used but a progressive change in the lengt-hs of the dyed and undyed portions of the yarn as the yarn is wound is avoided. The variatio-n of the lengths of yarn dyed in a single layer may be decreased by decreasing the taper of the core used or by employing a cylindrical core, but the small variation caused in this way when a conical core is used is usually not objectionable.

Through the above invention a suitably dyed yarn may be easily produced by the spinner and supplied to the knitter in condition to be used directly.

As changes of construction could be made within the scope of my invention, it is in tended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: y

1. A method of random dyeing and winding yarn which comprises, winding said yarn in successive layers of progressively increasing diameters, applying a dye to said yarn at intermittent time intervals prior to winding, and decreasing the time of said intervals in proportion to the increase in the diameters of said layers.

2. A method of random dyeing and winding yarn which comprises winding said yarn in successive layers of increasing diameters, applying a dye to said yarn at intermittent time intervals prior to winding and decreasing the time of said intervals with each successive layer of yarn.

3. A method of random dyeing and winding yarn, which comprises, winding saidy yarn in successive layers of increasing diameters, moving said yarn. passing to the winding layers into and out of contact with a dye at successive intervals and shortening said intervals with the formation of each successive layer of yarn.

4. Apparatus of the type described which comprises, means for winding yarn in successive layers of increasing diameters, means for bringing yarn passing to said layers into and out of contact with a dye at successive intervals and means for decreasing the time of said intervals with the formation of each successive layer of yarn.

5. Apparatus of the type described which comprises, means for winding yarn in suc# cessive layers of increasing diameters, a dye applying means positioned to contact with yarn passing to said layers, means for throwing said yarn out of contact with said dye applying means at successive intervals and means for decreasing the time of said intervals with the formation of layers of yarn of increasing diameters.

6. Apparatus oit' the type described which comprises, a winding machine having a rotating core and means for winding yarn thereon in successive superposed layers of` increasing diameters, means for intermit` tently applying dye to yarn passing to said core, a transmisslon means for transn'iitting motion from said winding means to said intermittent dye applying nic-ans and means governed by th'c quantity of yarn wound on said core for controlling the speed ratio of said transmission.

7. Apparatus oi the type described which comprises, a winding machine having a rotating core on which yarn is wound in outwardly superposed layers, a dye applying means for applying dye to yarn passing to said core, a rotating cam for throwing said yarn out of contact with said dye applying means, a transmission mechanism tor driving said cam from said winding machine, and means governed by contact with the windings on said core for controlling the speed ratio in said transmission means.

8. Apparatus of the type described which comprises, a winding machine having a core for Winding yarn in layers of increasing diameter and means for rotating said core, a means for applying dye to yarn passing to said core, a cam device for throwing said yarn out of contact with said dye applying means at successive intervals, transmission mechanism from said means for rotating said core for rotating said cam comprising a disc and wheel transmission, an arm dis placed by the formation of successive layers of yarn on said core and means controlled by .said arm for shifting said wheel on said disc.

9. Apparatus of the type described which comprises, a winding machine for winding yarn in superposed layers of progressively, increasing diameters, means for applying a dye to the yarn passing to said layers, means ior interrupting the application of said dye to said yarn at successive intervals, actuatmessage ing mechanism for said interrupting means driven by said winding means, and means actuated by direct contact with a Winding .for varying the speed ratio of said actuating mechanism to said Winding machine as the diameters ot' said windings increase.

10. Apparatus of the type described which comprises, a winding machine for winding yarn in windings of increasing diameters, a dye applying wheel, a tossing cam, means for passing yarn over said cam and dye applying wheel as it passes to said winding material, a transmission mechanism for driving saiddye wheel and cam from said winding machine, a pivoted arm bearing against the outer surface of said winding, a speed ratio varying mechanism in said transmission mechanism and means actuated by said arm for controlling said speed ratio mechanism.

11. Apparatus of the type described which comprises, a winding machine for winding yarn in windings of increasing diameters, a dye apply-ing' wheel, a tossing cam, means for passing yarn over said cam and dye wheel as it passes to said winding machine, a transmission mechanism for driving said dye wheel and cam from said Winding machine, a disc and wheel speed changing mechanism in said transmission mechanism, a means resting against and displaced by the winding as the diameter ot the winding increases and means for transmitting the displacement of said means to the Wheel of said disc to change the speed ratio of said transmission mechanism as the diameter of said winding increases.

12. Apparatus of the type described which comprises, a winding machine for Winding yarn in windings of increasing diameters, a dye applying wheel, a tossing cam, means for )assing yarn over said cam and dye applying wheel as it passes to said. winding machine, a transmission mechanism between said winding machine and said cam, said transmission comprising a speed changing mechanism, a means displaced by the winding as the diameter of said winding increases and means for transmitting said displacement to said speed changing device.

Signed this 29th day of January, 1923.

GEORGE T. THOMAYER. 

